SPOKANE, Wash., Sept. 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- People to People Ambassador Programs, the leader in global educational travel experiences, today announced that Mike Bowers, senior director of health and safety, has been elected to the position of vice president of the Student Youth Travel Association (SYTA). Bowers will serve as the vice president until August 2013 when he will move into the role of president of the association.

SYTA is a nonprofit, professional trade association that is acknowledged as the authority on student and youth travel. Its members are recognized for providing both domestic and international travel programs that enhance students' social, cultural and educational growth. SYTA advocates on behalf of student travel at the local and national level, and provides education and practices that promote safe travel both domestically and internationally.

"We are proud to have a key member of our management team involved in SYTA and are very pleased to see Mike's leadership role growing within the organization," said Peg Thomas, president of People to People Ambassador Programs. "As the only educational travel organization to employ a full-time director of travel health and safety, People to People views this as a great opportunity for us to share our best practices and to continue to learn and network with top companies in the industry."

Bowers has been a member of SYTA for four years and on the board of directors since 2010. Last year, he was asked to lead the task force to develop a vision statement and objectives for the new SYTA safety committee, which launched in January 2012.

"My entire professional career has been in the travel industry and for the past four years, I have learned a great deal about student travel and the high standards and services SYTA members provide," said Mike Bowers. "I look forward to leading SYTA to bring the best minds in the industry together to improve student safety and promote the importance of student travel."

Bowers joined People to People Ambassador Programs in 2008 and has more than 30 years of experience in travel safety and operations management. Heavily involved in carrying out day-to-day safety operations, Bowers oversees the execution of health and safety initiatives and provides his expertise and guidance to ensure the safety and well-being of each student and leader -- the organization's top priority.

About People to People Ambassador Programs
People to People Ambassador Programs is the world's most recognized educational travel provider. Since the 1960s, more than 500,000 people from around the world have traveled with People to People Ambassador Programs to help further global understanding through cross-cultural exchange. Offering unmatched safety measures and unparalleled access to foreign cultures and countries, People to People Ambassador Programs promotes personal success in a globalized world and fosters international friendships for both students and professional adults.

People to People Ambassador Programs is the exclusive educational travel provider of People to People International (PTPI), a nonprofit organization founded in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to promote peace through understanding worldwide. Together, PTPI and People to People Ambassador Programs are united in a mission to bridge cultural and political borders through education and exchange. For more information, please visit www.peopletopeople.com.

About Ambassadors Group
Ambassadors Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: EPAX) is a socially conscious, education company located in Spokane, Washington. Ambassadors Group, Inc. is the parent company of Ambassador Programs, Inc., World Adventures Unlimited, Inc. and BookRags, Inc., an educational research website. The Company also oversees the Washington School of World Studies, an accredited travel study and distance learning school. Additional information about the Company and its subsidiaries is available at www.ambassadorsgroup.com. In this press release, "Company", "we", "us", and "our" refer to Ambassadors Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

SOURCE People to People Ambassador Programs